Hanging Garden

The Hanging Gardens: Chronicles of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon Chapter 1 A stranger in the wind and sand In 600 BC, the wind from the Euphrates River, always wrapped in hot yellow sand, blew past the towering walls of New Babylon. The glazed bricks of Ishtar Gate glow blue and golden in the sunlight, and the reliefs of lions, bulls and dragons are lifelike, guarding this most prosperous capital in the Mesopotamia. Within the palace wall is the splendid Nangong Palace, but in this extremely luxurious place, there lives a woman who is depressed all day long - the princess of the Kingdom of Media, Amitis. She was the queen of Nebuchadnezzar II, the link between New Babylon and the Mede Kingdom. She had an alluring appearance, but never smiled. Amitis leaned on the pillars of the palace, looking out the window at the endless plains, his eyes full of loneliness. She comes from the Midi Mountains of the Iranian Plateau, where there are mountains, lush forests, gurgling springs, flowers blooming all year round, and the wind blowing the fragrance of grass, trees and soil. But in Babylon, there is only endless yellow sand, and the dry wind makes my cheeks hurt. It is rare to even see a tall tree, let alone the continuous green mountains and the singing of birds in the forest. "Queen, Your Majesty has come to see you." The maid reported softly, breaking the silence of the courtyard. Amitis slowly turned around and looked at the man striding towards him. Nebuchadnezzar II was a tall man with the majesty and sharpness of a king in his brows and eyes. He was the overlord who swept all directions and was the greatest king of New Babylon. He conquered countless city-states and made the city of Babylon the center of the world. But in front of Amitis, he would always put away all his sharpness, his eyes full of tenderness and care. "Are you looking at the scenery again today?" Nebuchadnezzar walked up to her, reached out and gently brushed the fine sand from her hair, his voice was low and gentle, "Are you homesick again?" Amitis lowered his eyes, covering the tears in his eyes with his long eyelashes, and said softly: "Your Majesty, there are no mountains, no forests here, and even the wind is salty. My dreams are all about the valleys of Medi, with clear springs flowing between the rocks, wild flowers blooming all over the hillsides, and birds singing non-stop on the branches..." Her voice became softer and softer, with an unconcealable homesickness. She had never been truly happy since her marriage to Babylon. The dullness and desolation of the plains made her lose weight day by day, and she was gloomy all day long. Even the most precious jewelry and the richest banquet in the palace could not make her smile. Nebuchadnezzar looked at her pale face, filled with guilt and pity. He can be invincible on the battlefield and make all people surrender, but he cannot make his beloved queen happy. He knew very well that what Amitis wanted was not glory and wealth, nor the supreme status, but the green mountains and green waters of his hometown, and the atmosphere of the mountains and forests engraved in his bones. "Amitis," Nebuchadnezzar held her hand and spoke firmly, "I will give you whatever you want. I will build you a garden, a garden suspended in the air, replicating the beauty of the Medes mountains, so that you can see what your hometown looks like without leaving home." Amitis raised his eyes, his eyes full of surprise and confusion: "Your Majesty, Babylon is all plains, how can there be mountains and forests? How can a garden hanging in the air exist?" "There is nothing I can't do in Babylon." Nebuchadnezzar looked into the distance with firm eyes, "I want to make this garden a unique miracle in the world, so that you will never miss the distant mountains and forests." At that time, New Babylon was at its peak, with a strong national power, a large number of craftsmen, and mountains of wealth. Nebuchadnezzar's promise soon spread throughout the palace, and a huge project began. Chapter 2 The creation of a thousand-year miracle Nebuchadnezzar summoned the best craftsmen, architects, and gardeners in the country to present his ideas. He wanted to build a layered terraced garden in the northeast corner of the South Palace, using stone pillars to support a multi-layered platform so that the garden could be suspended above the ground, replicating the mountains and scenery of the Midi Mountains. This idea was a fantasy at the time. Babylon is located in a plain with no mountains or hills. To build a hanging garden, the first thing to solve is the problem of support and waterproofing. After countless discussions and experiments, the craftsmen finally settled on a plan: using huge stone pillars as supports, the stone pillars are 25 meters high, stacked layer by layer, supporting four layers of platforms that shrink gradually, forming a stepped mountain outline. The construction of the platform was even more painstaking. In order to prevent water from irrigating the garden from penetrating and eroding the foundation, craftsmen first laid a wicker mat soaked in asphalt on each platform, then laid two layers of burnt bricks, then poured a layer of lead sheets to completely seal the gaps, and finally covered it with thick fertile soil, enough to plant tall trees and various flowers and plants. On the day the project started, the streets of Babylon were deserted. Countless slaves and craftsmen rushed to the construction site. Stones, bricks, and soil were continuously transported to the Nangong. Water from the Euphrates River was diverted for project construction and future irrigation. Nebuchadnezzar would visit the construction site almost every day and personally supervise the progress of the project. Even if it was the placement of a stone or the laying of a layer of soil, he would personally take care of it, just to create the most perfect home for Amitis. Amitis also came to the construction site from time to time, watching the garden of his own taking shape little by little. At first, she only saw messy stones and busy people, but as time went by, towering stone pillars rose from the ground, and layers of platforms were gradually built, and her eyes gradually became brighter. The most difficult thing was the garden's irrigation system. Babylon had a dry climate and little rain. Without a constant source of water, flowers, plants and trees would have difficulty surviving. The craftsmen came up with ingenious solutions: building a water house at the bottom of the garden, digging wells, and installing a chain pump water press. The slaves kept pushing the gears day and night, driving the buckets on the chains, and continuously transported the groundwater from the Euphrates River to the highest reservoir. Then, through hidden pipes and artificial rivers, it flowed down layer by layer, nourishing the flowers and plants on each layer. The sound of gurgling water will reverberate in this suspended garden from now on, just like the clear spring in the Midi Mountains. Nebuchadnezzar also ordered that all kinds of exotic flowers and rare trees be collected from all over the country, even as far away as the Kingdom of Media. Cedar, palm, rose, jasmine, as well as wild flowers and shrubs unique to the Midi Mountains are planted on every level of the garden. The trails in the mountains are winding and weaving among flowers and plants. Arcades and pavilions are built along the platform for rest and appreciation. Day after day, year after year, this huge project took several years. When the last tree is planted and the last stream of water is connected, the hanging garden is finally completed. Chapter 3 The Smile in the Hanging Garden That day, Nebuchadnezzar held Amitis's hand and slowly climbed up to this unique hanging garden. Pushing open the carved wooden door, Amitis was stunned for a moment, his eyes filled with tears, and a long-lost smile finally appeared on his lips. The scene in front of me is like a fairyland on earth. The four-level platforms are stacked on top of each other and extend upward, as if a green mountain peak is suspended in the air. The tall trees have lush branches and leaves, blocking out the sky and the sun, and flowers of all colors are blooming, red, yellow, purple, and white, covering every inch of the land. The mountain trails are winding and quiet, with green grass on both sides. The clear springs flow slowly along the cracks in the rocks, making a tinkling sound. Birds sing on the branches, and butterflies fly among the flowers. The wind blows, bringing with it the fragrance of flowers, grass and soil, which is exactly the same as the Midi mountainous area in her memory. Standing on the highest platform, overlooking the entire city of Babylon, you can have a panoramic view of the glazed Ishtar Gate, the golden roof of the palace, and the bustling streets. At your feet, there is a lush mountain forest, as if you are in the clouds, far away from the hustle and bustle of the world. "Your Majesty..." Amitis choked, tears falling down his cheeks. This time, they were tears of joy and emotion, "This is my hometown, I finally see it again." Nebuchadnezzar gently held her in his arms and said softly: "I told you that I will give you a garden of your own. From now on, this will be your home, and you will never have to miss the distant mountains and forests again." From then on, Amitis lived in the Hanging Garden all the time and no longer had the worries of the past. She walked in the garden every day, admiring flowers and trees, listening to springs and watching clouds. The smile returned to her face, and her face gradually regained its former glory. This garden is known as the "Xuanyuan", which is also the famous hanging garden in later generations. It soon spread throughout the Mesopotamia and even as far away as Greece and Egypt. Countless businessmen, travelers and envoys came here just to have a look at this suspended miracle. From a distance, the garden hangs high above the palace wall, with green trees and flowers covering the terraces. It is like an oasis hanging from the sky. It is so beautiful that it is hailed as one of the seven wonders of the world. Nebuchadnezzar looked at Amitis's smile and looked at this miracle he had created with his own hands, and his heart was filled with joy. He used the power of a country to give everything he had just to make his beloved smile. This romance was engraved in the history of Babylon and made the Hanging Garden a symbol of love and miracles. The intrigues and disputes of the palace seemed to be isolated from this garden. Here there were only the singing of birds and the fragrance of flowers, and only the companionship of gentleness. Amitis spent the happiest time in his life in this suspended mountain forest. She would water the flowers and plants with her own hands, sit in the pavilion and listen to Nebuchadnezzar telling stories about the battlefield, watch the sunset dye the sky orange, and stay with her beloved. Chapter 4: The prosperity is gone and buried in the yellow sand However, no matter how grand and prosperous it is, it will eventually come to an end; no matter how great a miracle is, it is difficult to withstand the erosion of time and war. After the death of Nebuchadnezzar II, the Neo-Babylonian Kingdom rapidly declined. There were internal struggles for power within the royal family, and the political situation was turbulent. The once powerful empire gradually lost its former glory. Conquered ethnic groups resisted one after another, domestic class conflicts intensified, and national power declined. At this time, the Persian Empire in the east was quietly rising. Cyrus the Great led an army and marched westward to the city of Babylon. The walls of Babylon were tall and strong, and the moat was wide and deep. The king and nobles thought they were impregnable, and they indulged in pleasure and neglected government affairs all day long. They have forgotten the glory of the past and their responsibility to protect this city. The beauty of the sky garden still exists, but the people who protect it have long lost their original intentions. In 539 BC, the Persian army launched an attack. Emperor Cyrus the Great cleverly used the water channels of the Euphrates River and ordered the construction of dams and diversion of the river water, allowing the army to sneak into the city of Babylon from the dry river bed. Without fierce fighting or tenacious resistance, the prosperous city of Babylon was easily occupied by the Persians. The war spread to Nangong. The once magnificent palace became devastated, and the sounds of crying and fighting broke the tranquility of the city. At this time, Amitis had already passed away. She was not able to see the fall of Babylon, nor was she able to see her beloved Hanging Gardens go to destruction. Persian soldiers broke into the Hanging Garden and destroyed it wantonly. The precious flowers and plants were trampled, the tall trees were cut down, the exquisite irrigation system was damaged, the gurgling spring gradually dried up, and the winding paths were covered with dust. The suspended wonders that were once lush with flowers and greenery gradually withered in the flames of war. After the Persians occupied Babylon, they did not repair or protect this miracle garden. As time went by, the city of Babylon gradually declined, lost its population, and lost its prosperity. The Euphrates River continued to erode, and the wind and sand buried it day after day. The stone pillars of the hanging garden gradually collapsed, the platform was slowly damaged, the soil was covered by wind and sand, and all the flowers, plants and trees withered. The oasis that once hung in mid-air was gradually swallowed up by the yellow sand and disappeared in the long river of history. No one will take care of this garden anymore, no one will remember the singing of birds and the fragrance of flowers here, and no one will remember the romantic love between Nebuchadnezzar and Amitis. The city of Babylon went from prosperity to decline and eventually turned into ruins. The Hanging Gardens, a building known as a miracle of the world, only left scattered ruins and a legend that has been passed down for thousands of years. When the Greek historian Diodorus came to Babylon, the Hanging Gardens had long since ceased to exist. He could only record the appearance of this miracle based on people's oral accounts: layers of terraces, covered with arcades and flowers and plants, which looked like they were hanging in the air from a distance, so beautiful. Thousands of years have passed, and the wind and sand in the two river basins have buried the prosperity of Babylon and the grand scenery of the Hanging Gardens, but they have not been able to bury the romantic story and the legend of this miracle. Chapter 5: Thousand-year dream, immortality in the Hanging Garden The stars change, and the sea changes. The former city of New Babylon has turned into a barren hill in Iraq. After years of excavation, German archaeologists found traces of the Hanging Garden in the northeast corner of the South Palace: semi-underground architectural remains, the bases of stone pillars, wells and tanks of the irrigation system, and traces of soil where flowers and trees were once planted. Those remaining ruins lie quietly under the yellow sand, telling the glory and romance of thousands of years ago. People are still exploring the truth about the Hanging Gardens, debating whether it was built in Babylon or Nineveh, and who built it. But no matter what the truth is, this hanging garden has long surpassed the building itself and has become a symbol - a symbol of ultimate romance, a symbol of the wisdom of ancient civilization, and a symbol of the once brilliant Babylonian civilization. It is Nebuchadnezzar II's deepest love for Amitis, a masterpiece of the craftsmen's wisdom, and the most beautiful flower blooming from the Mesopotamian civilization. Wind and sand can bury buildings, and time can destroy miracles, but the story of creating a miracle for a lover will never be forgotten. Whenever people mention the Seven Wonders of the World, they always think of the hanging garden, the flowers and clear springs by the Euphrates River, the smile that the princess finally showed, and the former prosperity and prosperity of New Babylon. Although the Hanging Garden has fallen, the legend it left behind will remain immortal in the long river of history, becoming a thousand-year dream in human civilization that will never wake up. The greenery and flowers hanging in mid-air are forever fixed in Babylon in the 6th century BC, becoming the most romantic miracle in time. Do you need me to help you refine the portraits of the craftsmen who built the hanging garden to make this miracle-creating process more visual? Concept: ancient costume